Franklin Hosts 161st Commencement Ceremony

Contact:

Sherry Mercurio
Executive Director, Office of Community Relations
(614) 947-6581
Email: sherry.mercurio@franklin.edu

Franklin University, one of the leading educators of working adults, will hold its 161st Commencement Ceremony on Friday, May 17, 2019 at 7 p.m., during which the University’s newest degree candidates will receive their diplomas. The commencement ceremony will take place at The Greater Columbus Convention Center, Battelle Grand Hall, 400 N. High St. in downtown Columbus.

Commencement has always been a time of celebration. For Franklin University, the event marks a tremendous sense of achievement for students who completed their degrees often while juggling work, families and more. The University is proud to honor the achievements of this newest class of graduates and invites the community to join in the celebration.

Participating in the May 17^th ceremony will be a group of graduates holding the special distinction of being the first graduates from the Columbus State Community College and Franklin University Exact Track program. Through Exact Track, students take an accelerated track to earn an Associate of Applied Science in Business Management from Columbus State and a B.S. in Business Administration and Entrepreneurship from Franklin University.

COMMENCEMENT SPEAKERS
Christie Angel serves as the chief executive officer of YWCA Columbus, one of the community’s most respected organizations dedicated to eliminating racism and empowering women. Christie joined YWCA Columbus in 2017 after working many years in the private and public sectors of Columbus. It is her love of Columbus and desire to create environments for people to thrive in – those in the community and YWCA staff – that is the driving force behind her leading YWCA Columbus.

Prior to joining YWCA Columbus, Angel was principal of government relations and public affairs for Calfee Strategic Solutions. She provided counsel and advisory services to businesses and nonprofit organizations on local government, business strategies and community relations matters.

Previously, Christie was deputy chief of staff and external affairs and services director to former Columbus Mayor Michel B. Coleman. She led the mayor’s external affairs office, served as the city’s chief government relations officer, and was responsible for developing and retaining relationships with business and community partners. Christie was a government affairs principal for a telecommunications company, a boutique government relations firm and legislative aide to Coleman when he served on Columbus City Council. She also spent several years working in the nonprofit sector on housing and homeless issues.

Christie prides herself on being socially conscious. She is an active and engaged member of Columbus’ civic and business communities. Christie currently serves on the boards of Campus Partners for Community Urban Redevelopment and the Greater Columbus Arts Council; she is also a member of the Columbus Women’s Commission.

Christie and her husband, Otto Beatty, III, reside in German Village with Betty, their toy fox terrier.

Also addressing the graduates will be Annie Ohms. Annie Ohms was born in India and moved to Chicago with her family at the age of 4. With her sights set on a career in the medical profession from a very early age, she landed her first job in a local hospital as a receptionist, completed her undergraduate degree in biology from North Park University in Chicago, and served as a medical assistant in various specialties for over seven years.

After her husband’s job led the couple to relocate to Dayton, Annie enrolled in Franklin’s Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) program. The MHA coursework, as well as discussions with faculty and peers, has inspired Annie to become a high-performing leader in healthcare.

In her current role as a medical assistant, Annie applies what she’s learned in the MHA program to improve patient care and change the perception of healthcare.

Annie attributes her success to her faith. She credits her parents for shaping her into the person she is today and she cites her husband, Josh, as an unending source of love, encouragement and support.

About Franklin University

Accredited, nonprofit, and dedicated to educating adults since 1902, Franklin provides onsite course options at our Main Campus in downtown Columbus, Ohio, and is an innovator in providing personalized online education. The University offers applied in-demand undergraduate, masters, and doctorate programs that enable adult learners to achieve their educational and professional goals. Through agreements with partner institutions, the University also offers international academic programs, including its top-ranked MBA.

Franklin University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and holds specialized accreditations for specific academic programs through the International Accreditation Council for Business Education, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, and the Commission on Accreditation of Health Informatics and Information Management Education. The National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security have designated Franklin University as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education (CAE-CDE).